[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OF FLORIDA

   Mr. GRAHAM of Florida. Mr. President, as ranking member on 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I rise to acknowledge an 
extraordinary charitable organization, which serves some of this 
country's most troubled and disadvantaged veterans. This organization 
is the Volunteers of America of Florida.
  The Volunteers of America of Florida provides essential services to 
veterans such as supported employment, mental health care, job 
placement, basic living skills training, housing programs, and social 
support groups. One of the unique outreach tools owned and operated by 
Volunteers of America of Florida is their Florida Veterans Mobile 
Service Center. This is a specially designed 40-foot-long vehicle from 
which medical, dental, mental health, substance use and benefits 
counseling services are provided. It is also used to distribute food 
and clothing to the homeless wherever they are located. The Mobile 
Service Center is on the road 200 days per year and has traveled more 
than 30,000 miles, serving over 40 counties in Florida to reach over 
3,000 homeless veterans per year. This includes outreach to rural 
encampments in areas such as the Florida Everglades, Ocala National 
Forest, and the Barrier Islands off of the Keys.
  The Mobile Service Center is funded through a unique partnership of 
Government, corporate and not-for-profit organizations which includes 
the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, Eli Lilly and Company, USAA, 
many veterans service organizations--including: DAV, VVA, AMVETS, VFW, 
PVA, American Legion, NCOA, Korean War Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, 
VietNow, Marine Corps League--and Volunteers of America of Florida.
  In Florida alone, there are between 17,000 and 23,000 homeless 
veterans who are living on the streets on any given night. Nationally, 
there are about 300,000 homeless veterans on any given night. In a 
year, that number jumps to over half a million veterans who will 
experience homelessness.
  As a new generation of veterans begin to return home, it has become 
increasingly important to cultivate safety net programs for our 
Nation's veterans. Volunteers of America of Florida is battling to 
break the cycle of homelessness and reintegrate these brave veterans 
back into society. It gives me great pleasure to honor the paid and 
volunteer staff that makes these programs possible throughout the great 
State of Florida.

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